Propeller mechanism.



JOSEPH KONITZKO, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PROPELLER MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

Application led July 15, 1913. Serial No. 779,110. j f

To all whom it may concern:

13e it known that I, JOSEPH Konrrziio, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Propeller Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to propelling mechanism. With the common propeller of the screw type, when the propeller is rotating in water, there is created in the plane of rotation of the blades of the propeller a circular swirl moving in the direction of traveljof rotation of the propeller which reduces the longitudinal driving efciency of the propeller to a large extent.

The present invention is designed to provide means for breaking up the swirls created by the revolved blades of the propeller and thus increase the eihcency of the propelling mechanism.

I obtain this object by providing twin propeller shafts, with means for moving them in the same direction, and mounting upon each of the shafts propellers, each having blades adapted, when revolving, to overlap the paths of movement of the adjacent propeller blades moving during the overlapping portions of their cycles in opposite directions, so that the swirl created by a blade revolving in one direction in a common plane is destroyed by a blade on the adjacent propeller shaft sweeping across the swirl and moving in a direction opposite to its movement.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter morev fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved propelling mechanism. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same looking toward the propellers.

The present mechanism is shown as comprising twin propeller shafts 2 and 3 with suitable journals 1; the shafts 2 and 3 being driven in a similar direction by any appropriate mechanism, here shown as comprising a driving gear 5 disposed between and engaging respective shaft gears and 7. The driving gear 5 is mounted upon an engine or other suitable driving shaft 8. The propeller shafts 2 and 3 are each provided with propellers 9 and l0, and the distance between the parallel shafts 2 and 3 is such that the blades of the propellers, when sweeping between the shafts, just clear the hubs of the A propellers.

While it is understood that I may use any type of propeller which can be so arranged and its movement so timed that the blades of each propeller will sweep in a common plane without interference, I have shown in this instance propellers 9 and 10 each with a suitable blade 11 and another blade 12. The

`blades 11- and 12 of each propeller preferably ,are disposed on opposite sides of the hub in diagonal relation, that is, the blades, when two are provided as here shown, are arranged in parallel planes withV relation to each other and on opposite sides of the shaft. The blades 11 of the propellers 9 and 10, when secured upon the shafts 2 and 3, are adapted to rotate in a common plane transverse the shafts and in a common direction about their respective shafts; the peripheries of the propeller blades 11 sweeping close to the hubs of the propellers. As the propellers 11 sweep between the shafts 2-3 their planes of revolution overlap, and since one propeller blade moves downwardly through the overlapping plane and the other propeller blade subsequently moves upwardly through the plane, it will be readily apparent that the swirls created by each of the propellers in their rotations are effectually destroyed. The blades therefore react against relatively inert volumes of water, whereas with the common screw propeller the swirls being created and moving in the same direction with the body of water decrease the efficiency of the propeller by reason of the similar direction of movement of the swirls with the propeller.

It is understood that the propellers may be provided with as many blades as is desired, but in this instance I have shown the propellers as each having blades 11 and 12 which are longitudinally spaced relative to each other. Thus each single blade 11 and 12 on the propeller shaft is caused to move through a relatively inert mass of water which is in length equal to the aggregate length of the successively arranged propeller blades 11 and 12. By arranging the propellers 9 and 10 side by side, with their axes in such juxtaposition that the peripheries of the blades will just clear the propeller hubs, the propellers when sweeping in opposite directions the plane intervening between the propellers operate to destroy the swirlsvfollowing the blades. Y Y

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. In a screw propeller mechanism, a pair of spaced propeller shafts, a pair of blades on each shaft, the blades of each shaft being axially spaced and located on diametrica-lly opposite sides of the shaft, the blades being of such length that in rotation thereof same will have their outer ends pass in close proximity to the opposite shaft and means to rotate the shafts in unison and in the same direction so as to at all times cause two diagonally opposed blades to extend into the Space between the shafts.

2. In a screw propeller mechanism, a pair of spaced propellers, and means for driving Vacross and throughout the area of the swirl created by the first named blade.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH Konirzxo.

l/Vitnesses: Y

' JOHN I-I. HERRING,

IV. IV. HEALEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

